HIROSHIMA, Japan -- On Wednesday, when Sanfrecce Hiroshima look to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Johor Darul Ta'zim in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals, they will not have to worry about three opposition players.
JDT's João Figueiredo, Hector Hevel and Jon Irazábal are among seven caught up in the scandal involving the Football Association of Malaysia using falsified documents to gain citizenship for the players to represent the country on the international stage.
Late last week, FIFA's initial punishment of 12-month suspensions for the players was partially upheld after FAM took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The septet will not be eligible to feature in official matches but can now continue to train with their respective clubs.
Nonetheless, before this final verdict was reached, CAS had granted a stay of execution which initially allowed the players to return to the field.
It meant that Figueiredo could start for JDT in last week's first-leg win over Sanfrecce while Irazábal was an unused substitute. Hevel was not included in the match day squad.
Going further back to last month, all three were involved in the 1-0 victory over another J1 League outfit in Vissel Kobe which ultimately secured JDT's progress to the knockout round -- while they were similarly benefitting from a reprieve over an offence they have since been found guilty of.
It is a decision that has left Sanfrecce coach Bartosch Gaul bemused on the eve of a crucial second leg between the two teams at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.
"I knew that the question will come," Gaul replied with a wry smile, after being asked by ESPN for this thoughts on the matter.
"It's a good question. Also, a little bit [of an] emotional question for me. But it's not under my influence, or our influence.
"I think what I can say about it is that I thought it was a joke that it was for one match [sic]. For me, I'm a fan of clear decisions and, if there was a situation of breaking a rule of whatever -- I don't know -- [but] if it was, then I think there should be a clear decision about it.
"For me, it's not clear. I can't understand it for 100%."
While voicing his candid opinion on the matter, Gaul did not appear to be overly affected by the whole situation -- and expressed his belief that the best way for Sanfrecce to move past the matter would simply be to deliver a comeback on the pitch.
"It doesn't matter for us because what is under our influence is more the team, our ways to win the match -- this is a solution for us," added Gaul, who only took over at the helm of Sanfrecce at the start of this year.
"This is what we can influence so we focus on ourselves. My wish is that, if there's anything like this -- clear decisions -- and this is, for me, not a clear decision so I can't understand it, but it doesn't matter.
"I'm the coach of the team and our influence and our focus is on the match.
"We want to win the match and, if we win it, then it's the best answer and we should not [need to] discuss anything else."
